Today's plan was to walk west along the other branch of the jeep track and explore the Dwaas River valley. Again there was no need to rush so we could enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Paul Martin got his tiny natural fuel stove going and soon had water boiling in our fire kettle, which had developed a leak! We started walking at 9h00 and soon discovered that this jeep track was much more eroded than yesterday's. It also followed a steep route with hair pin bends down to the valley and must have been a major undertaking to build. When we got to a side stream, which was bone dry, the jeep track disappeared into a metre deep donga. There was almost no trace of it any more and we only occasionally found patches of the road surface which was usually choked in dense vegetation. It was tricky going in the stream bed with a bit of boulder hopping and clambering down large boulders. After about 2 km (one and a half hours walking!) we got to a gate, with a big role of wire and steel fencing posts lying next to it. Petra was feeling a bit offish so we had a break to see if she could pick up. She didn’t so the Schoemans decided to head back to the campsite and we went on with Paul. It was not long before, after pushing through very thick but fortunately not scratchy bush, we reached the Dwaas River. There was a pool suitable for swimming but none of us felt like a swim and we continued down what we thought might be the middle of the jeep track. The bush opened up for a few hundred metres and we made good progress but it looked as though it might be very bushy going around a corner to get into the main valley. So we went straight up quite a steep ascent onto a ridge where we had lunch. From here it was obvious that the best way to get back to camp was go up a fairly steep gulley to get onto the ridge to the south of Dial’s camp. We could also see the Schoemans back at the campsite through our binoculars. We first had to drop down to the Dwaas River again. On the way down we passed a stone wall backing onto a rock face that seemed to make a kraal. Then it was along the jeep track, which was more obvious in this wider valley, again. We passed some very big cycads, took a turn up a hill to avoid bush and then went back into the valley when we saw there really wasn’t much bush and got to the main stream where we stopped for a drink. The water was wonderful and we replaced the water in our bottles. The bottom of the gulley was quite bushed up and it was steeper than it had looked. I battled more than the others and was last up. A quick blood test showed that my topping up at the bottom had not worked, and even after having juice half-way up I was still low. The ridge was a gentle uphill but it was easy going and we made good time. I stopped and cut down about thirty silky hakea bushes. There were many more off the top ridge that I had to leave – it would have to be a dedicated expedition to remove them all. The ridgeline joined our now well-known jeep track and after waiting a few minutes for Marianne and Paul the three of us got back to camp at 16h45. Petra was still feeling terrible and Paul S was thinking of driving back but it would make no sense as it would soon be dark. There was a very strong wind blowing over the exposed site, so Paul M and I built up the fireplace before lighting the fire. It had to be very carefully watched but we soon had our veggies, wors and chops done. Showers of rain forced us to eat in the cars. Just as we were deciding to sleep “downstairs” the wind dropped, the moon came out and we could put the roof up. Marianne and I did our walk up the jeep track again before going to bed. We were rather tired and slept well.

Geschreven door Leartravels